Conservation of Golestan Palace a goal for Tehran
Tehran’s efforts to restore and preserve the Golestan Palace are ongoing.Every nation has pride in its historic places, and Iran is no different. The breath-taking Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran, was once a magnificent building, in fact the oldest historic monument in Tehran. In use until 1925, the Palace was the site of coronations and was once the residence of the royal family.
Today, the structure represents 400 years of renovations, renewals and rebuilding. From 1925-1979, renovations were made which are now considered destructive. Most of the work since then has been to restore what was lost. The first major restorations were completed in 2002, but the process of restoring and maintaining this magnificent piece of Iranian history is on-going.
Visitors to Tehran from London Heathrow will find the Palace tucked away, a bit off the beaten path, but thousands still flock to Iran every year, and the Palace is one of the attractions that draw them. Today’s visitors will find the damage from moisture and pollutants has been repaired, and many of the misguided renovations have been restored to their original splendour.
Talar Almas (Diamond Hall) was changed to the museum of Fath Ali Shah, and the beautiful rectangular ponds on front of Takht-e-Marmar and Talar Aienh have been renovated and restored to their former glory. Paintings on the ancient walls have been restored, making the palace an increasingly popular attraction to tourists wishing to visit and explore Iran’s rich cultural history. The Palace even sports an underground parking lot, an addition meant to reduce damage from cars parking near the buildings. Iran’s efforts to preserve its historic monuments are far from over. Preservation is an on-going task.
